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Hot Weather Tips to Keep Pets Healthy
by Gail Luciani

Veterinarians at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania offer the following tips to keep pets
healthy and cool during the hot days ahead:

•Do not leave your pet alone in your car – vehicles heat quickly in
the sun, and animals left in them can succumb to heat stroke in a
very short time. Heatstroke is life threatening for both dogs and
cats. Signs to watch for are: heavy, loud breathing, a staggering
gait, and a bright red tongue or gum tissue. If heat stroke is
suspected, get the animal to a cool place, put cold compresses on his
belly, or in severe cases completely wet him down so that his hair is
soaked. This is a medical emergency – take him to your veterinarian
as quickly as possible.

•To prevent him from overheating, don't let your dog exercise in hot
weather. If you want to run with your dog, do it in the cool hours of
the early morning or late evening.

•Dogs and cats need a cool, shady place to sleep during hot weather,
as well as plenty of clean, fresh water, accessible at all times.
Feed your dog or cat in the cooler hours of the day. Older animals
have a hard time in hot weather, so be extra sensitive to their needs
during the hottest hours of the day.

•Be sure that your pet's vaccinations are up to date. Parvovirus, an
illness that flourishes in hot weather, can be fatal to dogs that
have not received their vaccinations. Also, be sure your pet's rabies
vaccinations are current. During the summer months, pets often spend
more time outdoors, and the chances of encounters with wildlife
(possible rabies carriers) increase.

•It's heartworm medication time. If your dog hasn't been tested for
heartworm this year, see your veterinarian. Heartworm is transmitted
by mosquitoes, but it can be prevented by administering a monthly
preventive between June and November.

•Keep your pet well groomed. Daily brushing or combing lets you check
for fleas and ticks. Fleas can cause allergic reactions and "hot
spots" in dogs. Hot spots are large, wet skin sores that appear
suddenly in areas where the dog has scratched. See your veterinarian
for flea and tick preventives or if a "hot spot" appears.

•Leashes save dogs' lives! Keep your dog on a leash when you are
walking him so he can't run into traffic or chase cats and squirrels
or other wildlife.

•Keep dogs away from picnic garbage. Ingesting corncobs and chicken
and other bones can be life-threatening by obstructing or perforating
the stomach. Also, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Center, the peels, fruit, and seeds of citrus plants such as lemons,
oranges, limes, and grapefruits contain varying amounts of citric
acid, limonin, and volatile oils that can cause gastrointestinal
irritation and result in vomiting and diarrhea. The stems, leaves,
and seeds of apples, cherries, peaches, and apricots contain
cyanogenic glycosides that can cause vomiting and loss of appetite
when eaten in large amounts. In severe cases, weakness, difficulty
breathing, hyperventilation, shock, and even death can occur. Grapes
and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. All forms of onion can
be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions
and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Left over
pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion,
sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets, can cause illness.

•If you have a swimming pool, do not leave your dog unattended in the
pool area. Not all dogs can swim – they can drown if they fall into
the water.

•Use a heavy screen on windows or keep them closed if you have cats.
During the summer, the number of cats suffering from "high rise"
syndrome, or falling from windows, increases dramatically. Contrary
to myth, cats do not land on their feet when falling from heights.
The most severe injuries occur when cats fall from second- or third-
floor windows.

Follow these safety guidelines to have a wonderful summer with your
pets!

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group - Aug. 4, 2006